Card tray with sliding information panel



J. T. JOHNSON ETAL CARD TRAY WITH SLIDING INFORMATION PANEL Filed Sept. 13, 1948 HANRIAIZE Kain 2o Gnoom ATTENDANTS PLACE DATE.

TIME WITNESSES INVENTORS ATTORNEY?! BRIDE MINISTER weoomt,

on Tua Jan. 2, 1951 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES OFFICE CARD TRAY WITH SLIDING INFORMATION PANEL Application September 13, 1948, Serial No. 48,964

2 Claims.

Our present invention relates to a card tray and the like provided with a sliding panel or holder for receiving a record card or the like on which may be written any desired information, such for instance as information concerning the principals, date, place, and the like of a marriage or other ceremony.

More particularly, our invention contemplates a frame for holding a glass panel behind which may be placed a printed wedding invitation, and a sliding panel preferably in the form of an opensided envelope of transparent material for receiving a record card on which may be entered data concerning the wedding in addition to that shown on the invitation itself, together with a spacer for holding the glass and invitation out of contact with the panel, permitting the latter to slide out of the frame through a suitable opening therein, thus providing an attractive tray for receiving visiting cards and the like, and additionally a tray carrying all of the information concerning the wedding.

A further object is to provide a tray of the character designated in which the sliding panel is in the form of a folded sheet of transparent material secured together at its free ends by a metal member, and a pull knob or handle on the metal member for removing the panel.

A further object is to provide a tray of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, which shall be compact, particularly in depth, and in which the sliding panel is frictionally held in a position wholly within the confines of the tray.

A tray embodying the features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section and with the panel partly removed;

Fi 2 is a detail sectional view taken along line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view partly broken away and in section and showing the panel in concealed position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along line IV--IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view; and

Fig. 6 is a view of the sliding panel removed from the tray.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, our improved tray comprises a rectangular frame l0, formed preferably of light gauge sheet metal rolled to shape. The frame It] comprises side members H and end members I2 and I3. The frame members ll, l2 and I3 may be similar in cross section and the upper, inwardly disposed portion thereof may be bent downwardly and inwardlyof the tray as indicated at M, and thence outwardly to form flanges l6. Handles l1 and I8 of any suitable shape may be provided at the ends of the ray.

Removably placed within the frame and abutting the fianges l 6 is a panel of glass l 9. Immediately behind the glass we place a printed wedding invitation or the like 2|, and rearwardly of the invitation a backing sheet or cardboard 22. Rearwardly of the backing sheet 22 we place a U-shaped spacing member 23, which may be formed of relatively thick cardboard. The parts just described may conveniently beheld assembled by means of a base or bottom member 24 of wood or cardboard, secured in place by means of small nails or tacks 26, driven through the frame and edgewise into the member 24.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the end E3 of the frame it is provided with an elongated opening 2! substantially the length and depth of the space provided by the spacer. The opening 21 is in alignment with the space provided between the legs 28 and 29 of the U-shaped spacer 23.

Disposed to slide in and out of the opening 21, between the legs 28 and 29 of the spacer 23 is a panel member indicated generally by the numeral 25. The panel preferably comprises a sheet 32 of transparent material folded over along the line 3!. The free ends of the sheet 3!! are clamped between the parallel legs 32 and 33 of a li ht metal binding member 34 having a pull knob 35. The free ends of the sheet are inserted between the legs of the member 311 and the legs are crimned or pressed to tightly grip the sheet, thus to form an open sided. transparent envelope.

Disposed to be sli ped between the folded sheet 30 is a record card 36, on both sides of which may be provided spaces for entering additional information concerning the wedding. The card may be freely slipped out of the envelope when the panel is re ov d from the tr y.

From the foregoing the method of constructin and using our improved trav may be readily understood. In disassembling the tray to insert the invitation 2|, the panel is first removed by pulling the same outwardly by the knob 35. The nails 26 are removed permitting the bottom 24, spacer 23, and backing sheet 22 to be taken out of the frame. The wedding invitat on is now placed immediately behind the glass 19, the backing sheet 22 is put in place, next the U-shaped spacer 23, and finally thebottom member 24.

therein, thereby to hold the entire panel .frictionally in the tray. The member 34 also acts as a stop to limit inward movement of the panel 25.

It is to be noted that the spacer 23 serves to support the superposed parts at the end of the tray opposite the opening 27, and also that the legs thereof support the same along each side. This arrangement holds the backing sheet 2-2 off the panel 25, permitting the latter to slide freely between the backing sheet 2-2 and the member 2d. Likewise, the legs 28 and '29 serve to guide the panel as the same is being pushed inwardly or being withdrawn. The record card 35 is protected by the folded transparent sheet 33, and at the same time information on either side thereof may be read when the panel is withdrawn without removing the card 35.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved tray for cards and the like which is simple of construction and in which the complete statistics of a given event are conveniently and adequately carried without marring the ornamental appearance of the tray. By providing the support for holding the upper memers of the assembly off the sliding panel, the latter .is easily withdrawn and replaced. .It will be apaprent that without the suport afforded by member 23 and legs 28 and 29 thereof, the panel 2-5 could be Withdrawn but that there would be difficulty in reinserting the :same due to the end of the printed invitation and the backing sheet 22 obstructing the opening 21. Likewise, while we have described our improved tray as being especially adapted for receiving a wedding invitation and information relative thereto, it Will be apparent that the same is useful for recording statistics concerning other events and of which it is desired to make a record.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obviou to these skill-ed in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be '1 end of the frame, there being a slot in the placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a tray and the like, a centrally open rectangular frame having a sheet of glass therein, an indicia sheet behind the sheet of glass, a bottom for the tray, a U-shaped spacer interposed between the indicia sheet and the bottom, the legs of said U-shaped spacer lying adjacent one end cf the frame adjacent the legs substantially ccextensive in length with the distance between the U-shaped legs and substantially as deep as the space formed by the spacer, an envelope of transparent material disposed to slide through the slot and lie wholly within the confines of the frame, and a binding member secured to the outer end of the envelope disposed to fit snugly within the slot to frictionally hold the envelope inthe frame.

2. In a tray or the like, a centrally open rectangular frame, a sheet of glass in the frame adjacent the top thereof, an indicia sheet immediately behind the glass, a U-shaped spacer having the ends of the legs thereof disposed adjacent one end of the frame, a bottom for the tray secured at its periphery to the frame and disposed to hold the indicia sheet and spacer in the frame, a sheet of transparent material folded upon itself to provide an envelope open along the sides, a metal binding member having par-- allel binding legs secured to the free ends of the folded sheet, a second indicia sheet in the envelope, there being a slot in the end of the frame of a size to slidably receive the envelope and communicating with the space between the legs of the spacer, and a pull knob on the metal binding member.

JAMES T. JOHNSON. ERNEST HENDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,186 Fountain Sept. .20, 1887 1,068,621 Abraham July 29, 1913 1,214,477 McCormack Jan. 30, 1917 1,270,475 Wilkenson June 25,, 1918 1,568,674 Knowles Jan. 5, 1926 1,640,011 'Somerfieck Aug. 23, 1926 

